Starting-valve for combustion-engines



J. MULLER.

. STARTING VALVE FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18', I917- Patented June 15, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

JAxoB MfiLLnn, or VELTHEIM, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR To BUSCH-SULZER 1230s. mnsnn ENGINE CQMPANY, or ST. LOUIS, ivrrssounr, A coaroaa'rron or mssotmx.

s'rAn'rnfe-vanvn non COMBUSTION-ENGINES.

7 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11116 19 20.

1 Application filed December 18, 1917. Serial No. 207,768.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAKOB MtiLLER, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing at Veltheim, Schiitzenst'r. 69, Switzerland, have invented the following-described Improvements in Starting-Valves for Combustion-Engines. 1

The inventions object is a compact starting valve structure for internal combustion en ines designed with special regard to the sa ety of the control of'the starting air pressure and to the elimination of negative work in the operation thereof. It is essential in air-started engines to avoid any possibility of admission of starting air to the combustion cylinder during the combustion cycle of the engine lest the augmented pressure exceed the safety factor of the engine design, and to this end the present invention controls the air admission by means of double valves, the one opening inward to the engine cylinder against a heavy spring and the other closing in the same direction and so as to be seated by the pressure of the starting air thereon, these valves being operated in unison and the latter being arranged so as to be balanced as to the fluid pressure acting thereon at the instant of opening, so that the load on the valve lever and also the wear on the severaloperating parts, as well as upon the valves themselves, shall be reduced we minimum. The invention further involves v the general design, arrangement and assemblage of the I parts adapting them to manufacture in a onepiece valve structure of small compass and also adapting them for operation by a single valve lever of ordinary size and arrange ment. p H

In the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof:- A a Figure 1 is a sectional view of the preferred form of the invention, the section being taken'on the plane of the valve stems; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the valve lever showing its relation to the valves; and V Fig.3 is a detail of the auxiliary valve. In the drawings, the casing of the starting valve structure is seated in its opening in the engine cylinder 1, wherein it is intended to be clamped by means of its flange 2 and'a' number; of bolts. The casing is formed of one piece divided into two chambers or compartments, one containing the main admission valve 3 and the other the auxiliary valve 4, together with its balancing pilot valve 5 The chamber of the main valve 3 extends into and is clamped tightly against the engine cylinder and at its inner end is provided with a terminal bushing 6 forming an inwardly-facing valve seat for the main valve'3. The stem of thelatter extends through the upper or outer part of its chamber to the exterior of the casing for engagement with the arm 7 of the starting valve lever 8. A strong spring 9 thrusting between the casing and a collar 10 on the valve stem seats the main valve 3 upon its seat 6, closing it outwardly with respect to the engine cylinder. The stem of the main valve 8 is inclosed within a valve sleeve 11 and a guide sleeve 12, the two sle'eves together extending from the spring collar 10 "to a shoulder 13- on the valve stem, and containing between them a series of superposed packing rings as indicated, and thereby forming a reinforce ment to the valve stem as well as a packing therefor. r

' Entrance to the chamber of the main valve is by way of the chamber 1 1 ofthe auxiliary valve 4 whichlatter valve closes in the direction of the air flow and against the conicalseat 15 formed in the partition wall between the chambers. The starting air enters the auxiliary chamber 14 from the pipe connection indicated at 16 and normally ex erts its pressure on the head of the auxiliary valve holding it securely on its seat. The

auxlllary valve is, however, adapted to be balanced so that this seating'pressure is neutralized whenever it is desired to admit starting air to the engine, and for'thispur pose its end 17, opposite fromits head, is made of a diameter equal to that .ofthe head and fitted within a cavity 18 in the valve casing and said cavity is adapted to be put in communication withthe pressure condition in the chamber 14 through a balancing passage, so that substantially the same pressure will be caused to act on equal areas in opposite directions body. valve may be openedlwith no appreciable effort notwithstanding the degree of pressure that may have previously been exerted to close the head of the valve upon its seat 15. In the preferredform of the invention herein illustrated, the balancing passage is formed through'the body of the auxil ary on the valve When thus balanced the auxiliary valve itself which is tubular, and that passage is controlled by the small pilot valve 5 seating; on the auxiliary valve, upon .seat 5 thereon, and in the same direction 01' closure. The stem of the pilot valve, marked 19, extends through the tubular part of the auxiliary valve 4 and through the balancing chamber or cavity 18 and'through the valve I casing to the ,exterior'of the latterwhere it Withathe. stem .19v of the pilot valve which it surrounds; The balancing: communication between the cavity 18 and the-chamber 14: is formed by one or more grooves 4* surroundingthe valve stem 19.

Itzwill bea'pparentthat the-thrust of'the springs 9; and 20 will keep both the maln and the-auxiliary; valves firmly seated upon tlieirrespective seats, alsoland incidentally seating'thepilot valve, 5 upon its seat 5* on V the auxiliary valve,Iandthat" thepressure of thestarting air;acts as; an additionalgseat: ing: foroempom the auxiliary; valve and-its pilot; Inttl'llS' condition theauxillary valve is unbalanced and firmly and safely closed. When: starting air is; to: be admitted. to the engine cylinder-as a preliminary to, startingr. it on its combustion=bycle-the valve lever/8' is set" so-as to be depressed by a cam,pnotrshown, and;.by.' reason of the rela tiveaadjustmentx ofits bearing screws 21* and7e'in itsarms 2'1 and=7 it engages and depresses: the; valve stem 19 of the pilot valve; slightly before, it engagesthe mam valve 3;. Thereby the pilot; valve5 is re- 1 moved from; its seat on'the auxiliary" valve and the pressureofzthestarting air present :in chamber 14 isadmitted t o.the cavity. 18

andzthere acting on the balancing head 17, counteracts. and balances the closingpressure on'the.valve,.permittingit to be easily openedion the. further depression. of'valve stem: 19. when the shoulder 22 thereon engages;it;. Inasmuch; as the area ofv the pilot: valve 5' need be no greater than; necessary: to: admit". the fluid pressure to the balancing; cavity 18;; it can be opened against the stanting air pressure with. very little effort. Immediately that? the. balance J has: been obtained, and substantially coincide'nti with: the engagement of shoulder 22 with theiauxilia1 y4 valve 4 the :main valve 3 is: opened; so: that thereby a free passage is opened through-both valves to the interior oftheengine; @n the returnof- -thevalve lever th'e several valves return to their former ,cl'osedlpositiom and" when so closed ac cidental back pressures from; the engine,

such as might occur from the breaking of the main valve 3, are effectually stopped by the auxiliary valve 1 which will be observed to be balanced as against any pressure exerted in the "chamber of the main Valve. At the same time and in normaluse, the entrance of the high pressure starting air to the engine cylinder is controlled and' sate-- guarded by two valves, severally intercepting the path of flow, one opening in one direction and the other in the; other but both operatedby the same valvelever-and with a minimum expenditure of energy. The advantages of starting valve structuresincorporatingthe principles herein. explained will be self-evident to-those skilled in this art and it will be apparentato such persons also, that the said principles canbe incorporated in valve structures of widely different design and appearance all: of which 8 are intendeditobe includedwi-thin-the scope of the following claims. Claims: 1.1An air starting valve; structurev for internal combustion engines comprising main and auxiliary air valves, one opening in the direction of the air How: and the-other against it and asingle lever operating botl valves. 1 V 1 2. A starting valivestructure for internal combustion: engines comprisingl main, and auxiliary air; valves disposed at.suc cessive points in the path of; flow of the starting fluid to the engine cylinder,- and afsingle valve lever operating b'oth valves in the same direction.

3. A starting valve structure for internal combustion engines comprising 'a single piece valve casing providedwitl'r a: partition wall] dividing the same into two cham- 1 hers, main and auxiliary air valve respee tively in said chambers and located. in= sues cessive pointsin the path of flow of start ingfluid to the engine cylinderand'a single operating means for both valves. v

4. A starting valvestructure for internal combustion engines comprising a double chamber valve casing made of alsingle piece adapted to be secured to the -engine cylinder, main and auxiliary valves 11 5 in said chambers and locatedv insuccessive points in the path of flow of the starting fluid to the engine cylinder, and a single operating means for both valves. I '5. A starting valve structure for combustion engines :comprising; main andiauxiliary admission valves, one: of which is seated by the pressure of the starting fluid ancing the said latter valve on opening the said main valve.

7. A starting valve structure for combustion engines comprising two valves severally controlling the path of flow to the engine cylinder, one of such valves having a pilot Valve, a single valve lever and means whereby the same opens the pilot valve in advance of the opening of the unbalanced valve.

8. A starting valve structure for combustion engines comprising two valves severally controlling the flow of starting fluid to the engine cylinder, one of said valves being seated against the pressure of said starting fluid and the other of said valves being seated in the direction of flow ofsaid starting fluid, and a pilot valve for admitting pressure against said last mentioned valve in a direction opposite to the direc- V tion of the pressure exerted thereon by the starting fluid.

9. A'starting valve structure for combustion engines comprising two valves disposed at successive points in the path between the source of starting fluid and the engine cylinder, one of said valves being exposed to the pressure within said engine cylinder whereby said valve is urged to its seat by said pressure and the other of said valves being seated in the direction of flow of said starting fluid, and a pilot valve for admitting starting fluid against that face of the last mentioned valve opposite the face thereof exposed to the starting fluid pressure to assist the opening of said last mentioned valve.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

JAKOB MULLER. 

